Kirtland Financial Services

09/23/2026

🎂 Japan just crossed a milestone: for the first time, more than 100,000 people there are age 100 or older.

According to the country's Health and Welfare Ministry, Japan now counts 107,677 centenarians, up nearly 8,000 from the year before. Almost 88 percent are women. The country's oldest resident, Kyoto's Fuyo Kishimoto, recently turned 114.

🎌 Officials point to progress in medical care, along with healthier lifestyles and diet, as part of what's driving the trend. And Japan isn't alone; life expectancies have been rising in many countries over the past several decades.

It's a good reminder of how many more years many of us may be around for, and why that's worth factoring into conversations about the road ahead, from healthcare to how a longer stretch of years gets supported financially.

That's exactly the kind of long-term thinking we like to talk through together.

The number of people aged 100 or older in Japan has surpassed a record 100,000 this year. The latest figures from Japan's government underscore the country’s rapid aging and population decrease.

09/23/2026

📱 More and more people are now using AI for financial questions.

And with tools like ChatGPT adding bank account integrations, personalized financial guidance is starting to feel more accessible than ever.

So yes, AI can help organize information, model scenarios, and answer technical questions faster than most people could on their own.

BUT… financial insight isn’t just a math problem.

AI cannot talk to you about the pros and cons of making a portfolio adjustment when stock prices are falling. It might struggle to fully weigh your family dynamics, health concerns, risk tolerance, competing goals, or what will actually help you feel confident in your decisions.

🧠 That is where human guidance still matters.

Vanguard’s long-running Advisor’s Alpha research highlights behavioral coaching as one of the most valuable aspects of a relationship.

Not stock picking. Not market timing.

Helping people manage emotion when the stakes are high.

🤝 The future is not AI vs. financial professionals.

The future is for those who use better tools while still bringing judgment, context, and a real understanding of the person behind the strategy.

09/21/2026

Did you know your Medicare plan can change for next year even if you don't touch a thing?

📬 Each fall, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans send a letter called the Annual Notice of Change.

It arrives by September 30 and outlines what's different starting January 1: premiums, copays, network doctors, and covered medications.

Most people never open it. A large share of Medicare beneficiaries never compare their options.

Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. Take the time to note what is changing for the coming year.

09/21/2026

🏠 Homebuyers are stepping back as mortgage rates climb higher, fast.

Total mortgage application volume fell 4.1% last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications for a home purchase were down 1% for the week and 19% lower than the same week a year ago.

Refinance applications felt it even more, dropping 9% for the week and sitting 65% below year-ago levels.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage climbed to 6.97% last week, and by Tuesday it had moved even higher, to 7.22%, according to Mortgage News Daily. That's nearly a full percentage point above where rates sat a year ago.

🔑 Rates aren't the only pressure buyers are weighing. Home prices remain elevated in many areas, and while more homes have come on the market, much of that added supply sits at the higher end.

For many households, higher borrowing costs paired with higher prices are making the buy-or-wait decision a harder one to call.

This is exactly the kind of shift worth walking through together, especially if a purchase or refinance has been somewhere on your radar.

Mortgage rates have surged to the highest level since the start of 2025, causing a major pullback in mortgage demand.

09/17/2026

Google co-founder Sergey Brin recently bought a $42 million mansion on Lake Tahoe.

But the most interesting part of the transaction isn’t the private beach. It's the exact state line where the property sits.

The estate is on the Nevada side, in Crystal Bay. The purchase was part of a strategy to shift his permanent residency and corporate holdings out of California ahead of a proposed 5 percent billionaire wealth tax.

Let's be realistic: there probably aren't many billionaires reading this post.

But we have seen clients:

▪️ Move in advance of a major liquidity event to a lower-tax state

▪️ Shift their permanent residence to help manage their taxes

▪️ Evaluate how state-imposed estate and inheritance rules may impact where they live in their later years

Tax strategy is a year-round discipline, not an annual scramble.

Whether you are preparing for a business exit or mapping out your retirement years, we’re here to help.

Any companies mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Consult your tax, legal, and accounting professional if you are considering a decision in order to manage your tax situation.

09/16/2026

🗞️ Treasury made an unusually large move to calm a shaky corner of the bond market.

On September 10, the Treasury bought back up to $6 billion in 10- and 20-year notes, up from its typical $2 billion operation. Despite the move, yields kept climbing: the 10-year note reached 4.841%, the 20-year hit 5.314%, and the 30-year climbed to 5.307%, levels not seen since before the 2008 financial crisis.

🛢️ The pressure isn't coming from one place. Government debt has grown, tariffs and geopolitical tension have kept inflation concerns alive, and oil prices have climbed back above $100 a barrel.

Higher Treasury yields don't stay contained to the bond market. They tend to show up in mortgage rates 🏠, auto loans, and credit cards, which is why moves like this are worth watching even if bonds aren't something you follow day to day.

The much-anticipated announcement triples the normal buyback operation and follows an announcement from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

09/14/2026

Which month historically gives the S&P 500 its biggest headache?

If you said October, think again!

Although October has a reputation for market events, September is actually the month that's experienced more downturns.

September finishes higher less than half the time (historically around 44 percent).

There are theories behind it.

Institutions often rebalance their portfolios at the end of the third quarter, adding to the volatility.

Traders return from a slower summer, which can shake up trading.

And the federal government's fiscal year ends September 30, so budget uncertainty also tends to land in September.

📰 Did you already know this? Or is this new news?

📋The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index that is considered representative of the U.S. stock market. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index.

09/14/2026

📦 Wholesale prices moved higher in August, with the Producer Price Index rising 0.4% for the month, right in line with expectations.

On an annual basis, headline PPI was up 5.4%, while core PPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2% for the month.

Energy was one of the biggest drivers. ⚡ Final demand energy prices increased 4.2%, while goods prices overall rose 1.1%. Services prices increased just 0.1%.

The latest report adds another piece to the inflation picture as the Federal Reserve weighs its next interest-rate decision.

For consumers and businesses alike, wholesale price trends are worth watching because they may eventually show up in the cost of everyday goods and services.

The producer price index was expected to rise 0.4% in August, according to the Dow Jones consensus forecast.

09/09/2026

📌 Most families think they have until next June to file the FAFSA.

For a lot of state and school aid, that's already too late.

FAFSA for the 2027-28 school year is set to open on October 1.

The federal deadline runs through June 30, 2028, but most states and colleges set their own deadlines, some as early as January, and aid is often awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

File in October, and you're near the front of the line. Wait until spring, and the aid you were counting on may already be spoken for.

Tip: Create your FSA ID at StudentAid.gov before October 1 arrives, ahead of the day-one rush.

If you have a student applying to college this year, make a note in your calendar.

09/08/2026

Do you know who just took the helm of the Fed?

Kevin Warsh is the new Federal Reserve Chair, though most people have never heard his name. Unlike his predecessors, he doesn't have an academic background. He spent the last decade and a half at a private investment firm, not in a university lecture hall.

He's already signaling a different approach, promising shorter statements and more transparency in how the Fed communicates.

That matters more than it might seem. The Fed Chair's decisions ripple through the economy, affecting everything from mortgage rates to car loans to credit cards.

Lately, we've heard one question more than any other: What does this mean for me? Honestly, it depends on your situation. But knowing who's steering the ship is where smart financial decisions start.

What's your biggest question about this shift at the Fed?